European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 9, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Beirut Lebanon apr British journalist John Mccarthy was freed from Captivity thursday and taken to Damascus Syria where he was turned Over to Britain s ambassador. A i would like to thank All the people who have done so much the last five years my friends and colleagues. And my heart is very grateful for All those efforts a he said at a Brief news conference. The announcement of Mccarthy a release made in Beirut came from islamic jihad which holds at least two american hostages. Its statement was delivered to a Western news Agency. The statement said he was carrying a message for . Secretary general Javier Perez de Cuellar. The British broadcasting corp. Reported Mccarthy 34, was turned Over to a . Envoy upon his release. He was met by British ambassador Andrew Fleming Green at the syrian foreign ministry the usual Point where ambassadors emerge with a hostage who has been released. In the absence of syrian foreign minister Farouk Sharaa another foreign office official confirmed that a British Royal air Force plane was in the Middle East prepared to return Mccarthy to Britain on thursday night. Sharaa was reportedly flying Home trom an islamic conference in Istanbul Turkey a a we re still really apprehensive Here we re waiting to see what he looks like How he is How his mental health is. We know nothing about him still a said Jill Morrell Mccarthy a Girlfriend. A your Joy our ecstasy is tempered very firmly by a number of concerns first of All for the 11 hostages who remain behind who Are still without Daylight and still in chains in the Lebanon a said Chris Pearson president of the friends of John Mccarthy. A to the families and friends of the other hostages i say that our hearts go out to you today because we do understand what you Are going through and we Hope soon that your pain will be healed a said Pearson who joined Morrell at the news conference. Brian Keenan who had been imprisoned with Mccarthy until his own release in August said he believed Mccarthy would feel Calm and collected in his first moments of  the Shock of being released is not one that sends you into reels and spins. You Are really quite Calm a Keenan said in an interview with Independent television news. A i think its in the next few Days when the press and journalism friends and family Are trying to adjust to this person who a Only been an imaginary image for so Long a that a when things get difficult. And that awful process of finding out who you Are again begins in Earnest a Keenan said from his Home in Belfast Northern Ireland. Mccarthy a release was f great news and a wonderful answer to the prayers and efforts of so Many people a said. Lord Runcie the former archbishop of Canterbury. His personal envoy Terry Waite is still a  Keenan was released last year he told reporters of his Long imprisonment with the High spirited and witty Mccarthy and the Friendship they forged. Asked Hov Mccarthy coped Keenan said a the irrepressible wit that is the Golden Kernel of John coped ultimately and always emerged Quot this photo of John Mccarthy 34, accompanied the Annous Cmunt of his  still hoping for Anderson s release Peggy say and her husband David wait in their Cadiz ky., Home for news. Cadiz by. A Peggy say expressed sadness thursday when the anticipated release of her brother Terry Anderson failed to happen. But she was pleased about the freeing of fellow Mideast hostage John Mccarthy she said. A a in a keeping on say said on a a lbs this  a a in a disappointed that it Isnit  43, chief Middle East correspondent for the associated press was kidnapped in Lebanon by shiite Muslim extremists on March 16, 1985. He is the longest held Western hostage in Lebanon. Five other americans Are being held. His sister said she had received no news about the possibility her brother still could be released thursday. A there is just rampant speculation and no Way to track Down rumours a say said her expression grim her voice somber. A i think there a still Hope. Its pretty hard to beat that  say said she believed the further release of hostages would depend on Israel releasing its palestinian prisoners. In an interview before the broadcast she said a if there Are no further releases today ill go to  it is believed that they had been held together. She said she had sent a congratulatory message to Mccarthy a family. Say spoke earlier outside her Home As diplomats in the Middle East Europe and the United states kept watch Early thursday hoping for a hostage release. Say had said that she had no assurances her brother would be freed but that see sister on Page 2